Faunal Assemblages And Biostratigraphy Of Several Pliocene Sites From Moldova

In 2002-2003 geological and palaeonto logical investigations were carried out in the southern and central part of Moldova. Sections of six sites were studied: Etulia, Gavanoasa, Luceti, Tataresti, Musaitu and Salcia, all containing vertebrate remains. The first five localities occur in the Karbolia Fluvial Formation, which is constituted by deposits of several alluvial cycles. Faunal assemblages from these sites are included in the Moldavian Faunal Complex, which corresponds to the Ruscinian (MN 15). Fossil assemblages from the upper part of Lucesti section contain also taxa belonging to the Uryvian faunas (MN 16a). The new site Salcia 2, located in the Dniester valley (the Ferladany terrace), yielded fossils of the post-Khaprovian (Odessan?) age, corresponding to the end of MN 17 or Q1. Preliminary lists of vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles and mammals) found in each site are presented. Bird remains were described in detail. Two rare species of rodents were found, Dryomimus elimyoides (Lucesti 2, lower layer) and Pliopetaurista cf. moldaviensis (Musaitu).